Many of us are anxiously waiting to get out into our gardens… longing to plant that first seed or plant, while others are anticipating a first-time garden. If you want to experiment with something new this year, try growing in raised beds. They’re an easy alternative to tilling up a section of your yard, especially … Continue Reading →
I anxiously trudged out to the mailbox dreaming of beautiful, glossy seed catalogs pouring out into my hands… I long to be tempted by the latest Heirloom tomatoes and lettuces… to plant those tiny seeds and then wait for them to sprout, reaching up out of the warm soil to the bright sunshine. Although I … Continue Reading →
Judging by the bitter cold, Mother Nature must not have noticed that the calendar says today is the first day of spring. If that’s not enough to spur an impulsive spring break getaway, maybe this Orbitz offer, good through midnight tonight, is: 15 percent off hotel stays for travel through June 30 when you use … Continue Reading →
Mid-March is the time when gardeners begin to sow seeds indoors. A friend mentioned to me that she knew someone who started cantaloupe seeds already. It’s about a month too early for cantaloupes. Those seedlings will end up leggy and weak. It’s likely that they will not fully recover from transplanting out into the garden. I know it’s hard … Continue Reading →
“Loom Knitting for Babies and Toddlers, More Than 30 Easy No-Needle Designs,” (St. Martin’s Press/$24.99) may just be the book of exciting knitted projects you’ll want to add to your collection. Isela Phelps, an authority on loom-knitting, offers readers a wide range of patterns to choose from for the loom knitter who’s looking for something with lots of style … Continue Reading →
I’d like to send out a BIG Thank YOU to everyone who helped me clean off my desk!!! I hope to put the books in the mail this week. Happy Crafting!
A record number of health care writers have turned up at the Association of Health Care Journalists annual conference in Boston this week, due in no small measure to implementation of the federal Affordable Care Act that is currently underway. The journalists are from all across the U.S., and what they’re hearing is still a … Continue Reading →
Earlier this week, my friend Phyllis asked me what she should do with her amaryllis now that it has stopped blooming. By following a few steps, it’s fairly easy to encourage an amaryllis to re-blossom. First, if you haven’t already done so, cut off the old flower stalk. Then just treat the plant as if it were a … Continue Reading →
Spring arrived early this year, at least that’s what some grasshoppers at our house thought. Last fall we planted some small glass terrariums using plants growing in pots outdoors. We used a variety of tender succulent plants, which meant we had to bring them inside so they wouldn’t die from the freezing temperatures. We discovered recently … Continue Reading →
If you happen to be an expecting mom or grandmom who’s looking for precious little items to hand-stitch and embroider for that bundle of joy that’s soon to arrive, then ‘Embroidery pour le Bebe, 100 French Designs For Babies and the Nursery’ (Harper Design/$12.99) is filled with lots of unique craft ideas that you’ll find hard to … Continue Reading →